Passion For Russian

Peterhof/Петергоф

There’s not really a lot to add to this. It’s beautiful. I highly recommend it. (Try to get the citizens’ discount.)

Raise your hand if you’ve been there!

Word of the day: citizen

This is my ticket to get into Peterhof and it’s one of my favorite souvenirs from this last Russia trip! Can you guess why? It’s not because of the pretty image of Peterhof on the front of the ticket, it’s because of that special word on the back of the ticket: граждане. (See the red arrow?)

As I mentioned in the last post about Peterhof, муж and I are cheap, right? And it is not uncommon in Russia to find two sets of prices: 1 for Russian citizens and 1 for tourists. Now is it just me, or is this completely unfair?!

So when I saw this was the case at Peterhof, I decided that I would like to pay the Russian citizen price. So, I got exact change ready for 2 tickets at the citizen price (which was 260 rubles total, as you can see on my ticket. I really wish I could remember what the tourist price was) and when I got to the window, I said as assertively as possible, and in my very best Russian, “2 tickets, please.” (and avoided eye contact).

I know I almost ruined it with the “please”! Believe me I was very nervous. I don’t normally do things that are this dishonest and rebellious. ; ) So the lady took my money and gave me the tickets. I was so excited! Best 260 rubles I ever spent.

Have you ever faked being Russian to get the cheaper ‘citizens’ price?

By the way, граждане is one of those irregular plurals, so I guess the word of the day is actually citizenS. The singular form is гражданин.

Getting to Peterhof

Peterhof is one of the unmissable attractions in St. Petersburg. Муж and I are cheap, so we opted out of the 500-ruble tickets on the hydrofoil, and decided, instead to brave the more complicated and much cheaper option of the suburban train at 87 rubles a ticket. This is one of those bargains. I’ll be bragging about to my grandchildren someday. (Note $1 today is worth about 30 rubles.)

Above is a huge map of the system. I actually I hate taking pictures like this because it really calls attention to the fact that I am a dreaded tourist, but it was too cool to pass up.

As much as I love the train and ours was a great experience, I do not recommend the Suburban train unless you are pretty confident in your Russian or you really want that “Russian experience”. But if you do, depart from the Baltic Station and get off at Novyy Petergof. Then take one of the following buses to the palace: 348, 350, 351, 352, 356.

I’m sure most of you reading this who’ve been to Peterhof took the hydrofoil. What was that experience like?

(Stay tuned for more on Peterhof!)